12th November 2024

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Dear friends and family in Christ, 

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It’s been a month since Tribal Gathering 2024. We want to begin by expressing our heartfelt gratitude to all the volunteers who served alongside us. Witnessing the unity of 33 churches across Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei represented by 308 dedicated volunteers and crew was truly inspiring. This year, we were blessed to see:

 

• Over 3,000 believers gathered together for three days

• More than 250 individuals prayed over for healing, with 207 reporting significant improvement and 46 experiencing complete healing

• 150 believers from local tribes in the interiors and other states travel in for the gathering, including the Penans from Long Kevok and Mulu, Kelabits from Bario, Lun Bawang from Ba’kelalan, Orang Asli from Johor, and Dusuns from Taginambur and Kota Kinabalu.

 

We sincerely believe the degree of spiritual awakening and fervent momentum we experienced at Tribal Gathering 2024 were the direct result of God’s favour - a blessing upon the unity seen in this interdenominational, intergenerational, intertribal, and international gathering (Psalm 133).

Allow us to share some reflections after Tribal Gathering 2024, as a way to remember what the Holy Spirit has imparted to us. May these thoughts remind us to walk circumspectly in His will and to work together to see His Kingdom come.

 

A HOLY SPIRIT-LED MOVEMENT

As a Holy Spirit-led movement, we are intentional about welcoming His presence and honouring His work among us. This year’s themes—Wombs of Revival, Next Gen, Arise!, and S.I.M. unto S.E.A—were born out of a year-long commitment to monthly prayer meetings, where intercessors dedicated hours to minister to the Lord, worship at His feet and discern the Spirit’s direction for Tribal Gathering.
 
At the heart of these themes is the call to take possession of the spiritual inheritance our nation received during the Borneo Spiritual Revivals in the 1970s. We believe the Lord desires the tribes of Malaysia to embrace and redeem, through His blood, their true identity in Christ.

This redemption extends to cultural practices, traditional music, and even tribal war cries (such as OOH HA!), all transformed for His purposes and glory. In its purest form, the Body of Christ is a holy expression of unity in diversity.

Throughout Tribal Gathering 2024, our program was intentionally structured to include extended praise and worship, giving us space to behold the Lord together and host His presence.

The pastors and speakers involved in the programme were those whom God has given a similar burden for revival, and who have graciously chosen to walk with us. As shared on the final day, these covenant friendships span Southeast Asian nations and have been orchestrated by the Holy Spirit. It is His love and grace that will enable us to keep the covenants we have made.

 

RESTORATION OF THE APOSTOLIC AND PROPHETIC OFFICES

It is also clear that Tribal Gathering moves in the prophetic. We believe the Church is called to desire the prophetic gifting (1 Corinthians 14:1) and that God is restoring the prophetic office in His Church. Through the ages, believers have experienced constant, ongoing revelation (building precept upon precept) from the throneroom of God; prophecy brings about a divine work continually done in and through us. It is important to acknowledge that God’s work is not yet complete and will not be until Christ returns for His Bride.
 

As Ephesians 2:19-22 speaks about the foundation of the Church being built upon that of the apostles and prophets, the decrees and declarations made prophetically in Tribal Gathering gives us insights into apostolic strategies for kingdom advancement.
 

For the Kingdom of God to be established on earth, transformation must permeate every aspect of society; from grassroots communities to the highest spheres of influence. The Holy Spirit’s impact is all-encompassing, moving across sectors from media and politics to socioeconomic realms, as His presence transforms lives and communities without discrimination.

 

NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS

If there’s one truth that has left a deep imprint on our hearts through Tribal Gathering 2024, it is this: we must exalt Jesus and His redeeming blood above all else. As the Mediator of the new covenant, His sprinkled blood grants us access to the Most Holy Place (Hebrews 12:24, 10:19).

On the final day, more than 3000 of us shared in Holy Communion. For many gathered in the stadium, it felt like we were given a glimpse of His glory. In that moment, we recognised our unworthiness and saw that our best efforts are but filthy rags in the light of His majesty. In that holy place, it was the blood of the Lamb that covered us—not only shielding us from the attacks of the enemy but also bearing the weight of God’s glory. That night, we stood in a stadium washed by His blood.

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A PLEA TO MAKE NO ROOM FOR ENVY

Bob Sorge once said that “envy is the twin brother of favour.” When a person or ministry experiences God’s favour, envy is often lurking nearby. It’s sobering to consider that God may delay revival in a city or community due to envy amongst believers. Revival history has shown that no matter which church or ministry God chooses as a catalyst, others often struggle with envy, leading to a critical spirit and disunity.

Unity in the Church is essential for sustaining revival. When leaders choose not to unite in God’s love, the blessing intended by God can sadly become a source of contention and strife. In such an atmosphere, God’s blessing eventually dissipates.
 

Our prayer is that the glowing embers of revival God has graciously given us will not fade as so many revivals have, but will grow into a holy fire that transforms the landscape of this region.

Friends, if we want to see transformation in Sarawak, across Malaysia and into the nations beyond, we must uproot any trace of envy within us and nail it to the Cross. We are all on the same team, called to fight for each other, not against each other. May we walk in Micah 6:8 - to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly before God.

As fellow ministers in Christ, we humbly urge you, for the sake of our children and generations to come - to allow God to purify our hearts of envy. When envy has no place within us, we can stand united in His righteousness as the Bride of Christ, spotless and without blemish.

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IN CHRIST, WE ARE ONE

As the co-event pastors of Tribal Gathering, our deepest desire has been to obey the Holy Spirit, faithfully carrying the flames of revival to this generation and beyond, so that God’s kingdom might be established here on earth. We do not take the Lord or His Word lightly; we are keenly aware of the seriousness of following Jesus. Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost us our whole lives.
 

Our prayer for you, dear friends and fellow labourers in Christ, is that as you encounter the winds of His Spirit and glimpses of His glory, you will carry those burning embers back to your churches, ministries, and communities.
 

We pray that you will lead your congregations into deeper intimacy with the Lord, find joy in His presence, and with courage, go forth into the harvest field. When non-believers see the genuine love we have for one another, they will be drawn to Him.
 

We pray that the Malaysian Church will rise as one, setting aside differences, supporting one another, and spurring each other on in the faith as we see the Day approaching.

May the love of God our Father, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. We love you all.

 

With love in Christ,

Pastor Rachel K. Bulan

Pastor Sabrina Low

Tribal Gathering Event Pastors

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